The Ripley County Chamber of Commerce’s role in the local economic setting “is to develop programs, community events and awareness for existing businesses,” notes director Amy Thomas. The chamber promotes new businesses by having ribbon cuttings and community awareness in the local media.

The chamber office is located at 102 N. Main St., on the courthouse square, in Versailles. It is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The phone number is 812-689-6654.

The chamber now has 155 members, who meet on the second Thursday of each month at local chamber member restaurants.

One of the chamber’s goals is to have a strategic plan “to come up with ideas of what is needed to assist existing businesses and also new businesses,” she points out.

The group is guided by President Barry Lauber, Osgood; Vice President Linda Chandler, Versailles; Secretary Gerry Nordmeyer, Batesville; and Treasurer Bonnie Jeffries, Versailles. Other board members are Pete Mack, Batesville; Phil King, Mary Ann McCoy, Matt McNew and Wilbur Myers, Holton; Justin Smith, Milan; Rick Gilland, Napoleon; Cathy May and Alesha Neal, Osgood; David Baugh, Denessa Benkie, Beth Schmaltz and Lorie Taylor, Versailles.

Chamber leaders want to provide more educational training and programs that are valuable to existing businesses.

They also are preparing for three activities:

• Wednesday, May 6, chamber business recognition luncheon, noon, Southeastern Indiana REMC Training Center, Osgood. Ripley County businesses that started between May 2008 and April 2009 will be introduced and the Business of the Year Award will be presented.

• Wednesday, June 10, chamber golf scramble, lunch at 11 a.m., tee-off at 12:30 p.m., Hoosier Links Golf Club, Milan. Cost: $200 per team. First and second place teams will earn cash award prizes.

• Saturday, June 27 – chamber 5K walk/run, Check-in at 7-7:50 a.m., race at 8 a.m., on the Versailles square. Registration fee: $10 beforehand; $15 on race day (includes T-shirt). The top three males and females in each age group will be awarded gold, silver or bronze medals. “We have over 100 participants in this race,” Thomas says.

Upcoming events are detailed at the Web site www.ripleycountychamber.org.